Ahead of the 2027 elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition has intensified efforts to galvanize support across Northern Nigeria in a strategic campaign to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The 3rd expanded meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) convened on Saturday at Continental Hotel, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, ADC Protem National Chairman, Senator David Mark, highlighted insecurity, extreme poverty, and ethno-religious conflicts as some of the most pressing challenges afflicting the North.
Describing the North as a region blessed with rich history, vast mineral resources, fertile agricultural land, and a vibrant cultural diversity, Mark affirmed that the ADC is the only political vehicle capable of leading the North out of its current predicament.
In his keynote address titled “Unity and social cohesion as a panacea to the challenges facing northern Nigeria,” Mark expressed deep concern over how banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and communal clashes have ravaged villages, displaced millions, and crippled the economy over the past decade.
Despite its abundant resources, he lamented, the North remains the poorest region in Nigeria, plagued by high levels of illiteracy, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure. He attributed these woes to poor governance.
Mark urged Nigerians in the North to learn from the legacies of the late Premier of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and the leader of the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU), Malam Aminu Kano, emphasizing the need for unity to restore sustainable development.
He stressed, “As leaders, as politicians or just as ordinary citizens, all of us must consider it our sacred duty to be bridge-builders, not dividers in our local communities.”
“Too often, as politicians, we exploit ethnic and religious differences to win elections, and thereafter, we leave our people hopelessly divided.”
He added, “The destructive weaponisation of ethnicity and religion we saw in the last election is unacceptable. This is where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will make the difference. For us, politics is about service and not manipulation.”
Mark identified marginalization as the primary source of division in Northern Nigeria, saying, “We must ensure fairness in appointments, resource allocation, and opportunities. Resentment grows when any group feels excluded. But when all see themselves as equal stakeholders, peace flourishes.”
He warned, “Ignorance is the biggest enemy of unity, social cohesion and development. We must invest in education that teaches our children the value of diversity.”
“Let our schools, churches and mosques preach tolerance. Let our media promote stories of cooperation. For as long as we continue to treat investment in education with levity and frivolity, for that long shall we continue to reap poverty and insecurity.”
On the security situation, Mark stated, “Our security challenges are self-inflicted. We cannot continue to expect solutions from elsewhere. Northern Nigeria used to be the safest part of Nigeria.”
“There were no armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism or fraudsters, but today the story in the North is different.”
He recalled, “The Native Authority, the precursor of today’s Local Government Area, used to have an effective community policing infrastructure where villagers protected each other. We have to find a way to reorganise our people in their villages to return to these age-old and tested practices.”
On conflict resolution, Mark appealed, “Wherever conflicts arise, we must choose dialogue over inflammatory rhetoric, peace mediation over mutual annihilation, repentance and forgiveness over vengeance. Too much blood has been shed in our land. It is time to make peace.”
Notable members of the coalition attending the meeting included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
